The Eye of the Storm Trivia Quiz

Answer: Caused eighty-one deaths in Toronto

This was a particularly unusual event because hurricanes typically lose strength very quickly over land. Hazel made landfall as a Category Four storm, then tore through central areas of North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and western New York before stalling over Toronto as a Category One. High winds and disastrous flooding ravaged a city that was unaccustomed to this type of devastating weather, and both the city's landscape and the memories of its citizens were changed forever.

Answer: Mitch

Catastrophic flooding and mudslides, particularly in Honduras and Nicaragua, left the area without communication, fresh water and essential supplies. Contaminated water was responsible for widespread illness after the storm's passage, and many areas faced cleanup and rebuilding efforts that would take years to complete.

The name "Mitch" was retired by the World Meteorological Organization and will never be used again.

Answer: Bermuda

Despite the fact that the entire eye failed to move onshore, Fabian was responsible for four deaths, widespread power outages, and heavy damage to buildings and vegetation. Thankfully, strong preparation by citizens who are accustomed to tropical weather prevented a much worse outcome.

Fabian also caused dangerous surf along the US coastline and three lives were lost when a ship sank in high waves off the Newfoundland coast.

Answer: Rita

With the catastrophic Katrina fresh in the minds of millions, widespread evacuations were ordered for the cities of Houston and New Orleans, resulting in massive traffic jams and gridlocked highways.

A large number of the 120 reported deaths were caused by incidents resulting from the mass exodus of the metropolitan areas of Texas that lay in Rita's path.

Answer: Bertha and Fran

Making a rare July appearance, Bertha came ashore near Topsail Island on July 12. The Category 2 storm caused severe wind damage, flooding and crop destruction. Power outages for up to three weeks were reported in some areas.

Less than two months later, Fran, a large Category 3 system, made landfall in a spot very close to Bertha's entry point. Sustained winds in excess of 115 MPH and heavy rain demolished structures that were still awaiting repair from Bertha, and Fran was responsible for twenty-seven deaths from the Bahamas to Virginia.

Answer: 1992

The devastation caused in the Miami/Homestead area of Florida by Hurricane Andrew was the costliest of the twentieth century. Dozens of deaths and billions of dollars worth of damage were attributed to the storm, and until Katrina in 2005, it was considered by most experts to be the worst natural disaster in US history.

Answer: New York City

Although storm remnants affect New York rather frequently, most hurricanes lose intensity prior to arrival. Gloria caused flooding and wind damage in Long Island before making another landfall in Connecticut.

The large size of the storm and landfall in heavily populated areas were factors in the decision to retire the name "Gloria", which was replaced in the six year list rotation with "Grace".

Answer: Gilbert

Gilbert began as a tropical wave on September 3 and tore through a number of Caribbean islands before making landfall in southeastern Mexico with Category 5 winds on September 14. The system then crossed the Gulf and came onshore in mainland Mexico as a Category 3.

Texas was spared from a direct hit but there was significant tornado damage in San Antonio and surrounding areas. Over three hundred deaths, most of them in Mexico, resulted from Hurricane Gilbert.

Answer: Hugo

Hurricane Hugo slammed into Charleston Harbor on September 22, destroying thousands of structures and killing thirty-five people before tracking northwest through the state and passing over Charlotte, NC a few hours later. Downed power lines and uprooted trees disrupted a city that is unaccustomed to visits by full tropical systems, and parts of the area were without utility service for weeks afterward.

Hugo was the US's costliest storm up to that date and remained so until Andrew's arrival in 1992.

Answer: Storm surge

Floyd dropped nearly two feet of rain in an area already soaked from Dennis, which had hit less than two weeks earlier. Days later, as rivers began cresting, much of eastern North Carolina was covered by waters that approached 1,000 year flood levels. In inland areas, road closures due to washout hindered rescue and disaster aid workers and delayed residents who were trying to return home after evacuating.

Despite Floyd's relatively low Saffir Simpson rating (Category 2), every county in the eastern part of the state was affected. In some areas, cleanup took years and many of the damaged homes and businesses were simply demolished without plans to rebuild.